growing sweet sorghum

Now, gardeners are raising food-grade sorghums to mill into fresh, gluten-free flour for baking breads, pastas and other edibles, or brewing the grains for beer and other spirits. Growers are also raising cane, so to speak: Sweet sorghum, sometimes called cane sorghum, yields a mild syrup similar in consistency to molasses. You must cook the juice down to the final sorghum syrup. Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today! The best part? Varietal choice The two preferred varieties in Zimbabwe are: SC SILA Sweet Sorghum Revival: How to Grow Your Own Natural Sweetener. International Subscribers - Click Here When the canes are ready for harvest, call in friends and family — the harvest and processing steps will require extra hands on deck. Sorghum is fairly drought-tolerant and grows quickly following a rain, so irrigation shouldn’t be necessary in most climates. That sounds like something that would require special equipment. Growing Heirloom Sweet Sorghum A Quick Look at Some New Varieties By George Kuepper, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist with Bruce Branscum, Kerr Farm/Ranch Technician, and Melanie Zoeller, Kerr Center Executive Administrative Assistant Kerr Center for HEIRLOOM VARIETY TRIALS Sustainable Agriculture P.O. I’m helping MOTHER EARTH NEWS lead a sorghum revival so that you, too, can experience the sweet satisfaction of becoming one step closer to food self-sufficiency. After your first sorghum harvest, you’ll be able to save enough seed for future plantings. This requires a large pan (evaporator) and a heat source, typically a wood fire. You say this can be grown and processed at home, but I am left wondering how on earth you grind and press 8-foot stalks at home. Sorghum actually looks like a small variety of corn when growing. When you press the canes, you’ll need to catch the flow of juice and strain it to keep out bits of stalk, pith and dirt. Comparatively, a smaller, 100-square-foot crop (two 50-foot rows) would produce about 6 gallons of juice and two-thirds gallon of syrup. Even in warm climates, sorghum is customarily planted in late May or early June. Broom corn varieties vary in the color of the seeds, which may be black, red, orange or white. The variety of cane grown, the type of soil it’s grown in, the maturity of the cane at harvest, the length of cooking — all of these factors work together to turn out a unique, natural sugar substitute each time. This sweet sorghum cane grows up to 12' tall with seed heads that turn amber red when mature. Drizzle sorghum syrup on warm biscuits or pancakes, add to muffin or gingerbread batters, or follow these recipes: Ooey-Gooey, Rich and Sweet Sorghum Caramels. Follow us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/SurvivalHT Growing and Harvesting Sorghum for Livestock Feed. Step aside, honey and maple syrup — there’s a new sweetener on the block, and it can be grown and processed right at home. Up to a week before your processing date, remove all of the leaves and seed heads from the canes, saving the seed heads for replanting. Immediately ladle the sorghum syrup into sterilized jars and screw on clean lids. Developing a new mill design for hand-crank sorghum processing. Growing sorghum is as simple as growing corn, and you can choose between growing grain sorghum (milo), sorghum varieties known as broom corn, or sweet sorghum for making into sorghum syrup. Sweet Sorghum Productivity The productivity of Sweet Sorghum largely depends on many para-meters:-climatic condition (temperature, precipitation), soil quality, variety of Sweet Sorghum, agronomic practice. Contact Barbara by visiting her website or finding her on Google+. A crop this size will yield approximately 40 to 50 gallons of juice, which will cook down to about 4 to 5 gallons of finished sorghum molasses. The primary objective for growing sweet sorghum for syrup is to obtain the highest possible yield of good-quality syrup at the lowest cost. This pan holds up to 50 gallons and can cook as few as 30 gallons without scorching the syrup. Be especially careful not to undercook or underskim, as these can ruin a batch more than anything else. Harvesting and Storage Sweet sorghum grows as a cane from 6 to 10 feet tall and makes a cone-shaped seed head filled with BB-sized seeds. Heckemeyer hopes to produce butanol, which nearly packs the same energetic punch as natural gas. Sweet sorghum, also called cane sorghum, is grown for the sweet juice that is extracted from the tall stalks. Sweet sorghum has potential to be a main fuel source, but it will still take years of research to be able to convert the energy. But, sorghum syrup is really labor intensive to make and when corn syrup is so much easier and cheaper to produce there's not much point in growing it. 859-873-8497; send an email to ccfarmdude@aol.com  or rabjrock@gmail.com. Sweet sorghum is harvested about two weeks after the milk stage by cutting off the canes at ground level, stripping off the leaves, and setting aside the green canes. Sorghum-making is a way to increase your food self-sufficiency while maintaining a meaningful tradition. In addition, there was a lot of silage planted in June and July. To help us power the sorghum revival, our friends at GrainMaker are developing a smaller, hand-cranked mill that should be available in mid-2013. For more specific recommended planting dates for your local climate — and to design your garden beds — try our Vegetable Garden Planner. Unlike sugarcane, sweet sorghum has the ability to grow outside tropical climates, providing Heckemeyer another means of increasing his profitability by contributing a unique product for a growing marketplace. It has been proven to be highly palatable due to its large leaf and medium sized juicy sweet stalks which also increases its energy value. Allow the stalks to dry in small bunches. Another positive climate change value of this crop is that it consumes less water. Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. The ‘Dale’ variety is productive in a range of climates, or you can try heirloom sweet sorghum varieties like ‘Sugar Drip’ or ‘Rox Orange.’ For more information on this type of sorghum, go to Sweet Sorghum Revival: How to Grow Your Own Natural Sweetener. When the syrup is complete, the pan needs to be transferred from the heat to a heat-safe surface. The fire is built higher, kids are playing hide-and-seek, the stars are coming out, and laughter fills the air. For more detailed instructions on producing sweet sorghum syrup — beyond what you’ll find in this article — read our online selections from the book Sweet Sorghum Production and Processing from the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Sorghum Production: Milling and Cooking and Learn About Growing Sorghum: A Natural Sweetener. Sorghum is a natural sweetener that's packed with nutrients and can be used in many recipes. Unlike corn, sorghum is self-fertile, so a large plot is not needed for pollination purposes. Use a skimmer to lift off the green foam that floats to the surface throughout the day, which must be removed to ensure a clean, flavorful syrup. Contributing editor Barbara Pleasant gardens in southwest Virginia, where she grows vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and a few lucky chickens. Watch the temperature of the sorghum using a candy thermometer to help identify when the sorghum syrup is nearly done, around 225 to 235 degrees Fahrenheit. Sweet sorghum is any of the many varieties of the sorghum grass whose stalks have a high sugar content. It shouldn’t taste as raw as it does when it’s first squeezed from the stalk, and it should be thick like corn syrup (the hot syrup will be thinner than the final product). Sweet sorghum grown for syrup looks similar to corn but can reach 10-plus feet tall. For growing advice for many more garden crops, check out our complete Crops at a Glance Guide. I remember the sorghum canes growing in our garden, and the late summer day we harvested our crop. Bring on the cold — we’re ready. 855-777-7096 Sweet sorghum is still used to make syrup in parts of the United States, since sorghum syrup is considered a traditional food, used in the same way that maple syrup is. Sweet Sorghum planting in China We plan to evaluate the potential of sweet sorghum as an ethanol-producing crop for Nebraska. Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is primarily grown for the sweet juice that is extracted from the plant’s stalks. You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 issues. When made at home, every batch of sorghum syrup turns out a little different because many variables play a part in the process. Sweet As is a sweet sorghum variety that has high yield and sugar levels. A pan about 2 to 3 feet long and 1 to 2 feet wide would work well for cooking down 10 gallons of juice. The ornamental tops also can be used in dried arrangements. All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. Sweet As is great for grazing and also makes excellent silage. Many factors work together to turn out a unique batch of homemade sorghum syrup each time. Broom corn is a type of sorghum that holds its seeds on sturdy straws, perfect for trimming into brooms. don't have an online These aren’t only old, nearly forgotten memories. Sweet As … Don't miss the plans for a DIY sorghum press, submitted by a reader as a follow-up to the original printing of this article. In fall, during a period of dry weather, select the largest seeds produced by these plants and save them for replanting. Country Rock Sorghum A few days before and up to the morning you plan to press, cut the cane to about 6 inches above the ground with a long-handled scythe, machete or pruning shears. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. Growing sweet sorghum takes three months while planting and harvesting sugarcane, a major source of ethanol, lasts 10 to 11 months. Grain sorghum and broom corn are harvested later, after the seeds are fully mature, with hard glossy seed coats. I feed this byproduct to our pigs, along with the spent sorghum canes — they wallow in, sleep on and eat them with relish. AGECON 99-055, Univ. It's an annual crop that produces 20+ tons of biomass per acre, which you crush to extract the juice and make sorghum syrup (to me the taste is somewhere between honey & molasses). National Sweet Sorghum Producers and Processors Association  You can find vintage iron sorghum mills at farm sales or purchase new machines built following old designs. You may want to look into making a group purchase, as these large mills are often expensive. Eventually, less scum and more brown bubbles will appear — a signal that you are nearly done cooking. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday. Sorghum syrup is a 100 percent natural sweetener sometimes called “sorghum molasses,” as its flavor and uses are similar to those of molasses made from sugar cane. Sandy soils in warm climates … Six weeks after planting, drench sorghum with a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer to invigorate new growth. You can begin cooking after you’ve pressed at least half of your canes. I would like to take this opportunity to beat the drum of sweet sorghum cultivation as a valuable carbon farming option. account? A fire pit is the typical heat source for small-scale sorghum syrup production. If the saline-based land and the sorghum-growing land are used for cultivating sweet sorghum, then the planting areas would amount to 970 kha, producing 0.35 million tons of bioethanol. of Georgia, March 1999. The syrup is sometimes incorrectly referred to as sorghum molasses. Already a Member? Researchers in Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas have started converting sorghum into ethanol. Heirloom Okra and Green onion seed stock as well Sorghum-making is a way to increase your food self-sufficiency, but more than that, it’s a meaningful tradition you can add to your homestead. National Sweet Sorghum Producers and Processors Association, Learn About Growing Sorghum: A Natural Sweetener. Sorghum grows best where summers are quite warm, with daytime temperatures regularly topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Appropriate sorghum varieties must be chosen for each use, but all types are as easy to grow as corn. Shorter season: ‘Della,’ ‘Rox Orange’ (aka ‘Waconia’), ‘Sugar Drip’, Longer season: ‘Dale,’ ‘M81E,’ ‘White African’. Sign in with your online account. Look for sweet sorghum producers in your hardiness zone to acquire seed acclimated to your area — most sorghum varieties mature in 100 to 120 days. Sweet sorghum thrives better under drier and warmer conditions than many other crops and is grown primarily for forage, silage, and syrup production. At the end of a day of sorghum-making, the pan has been licked clean, rinsed out and set to rest against a nearby tree. Harvest grain sorghum by cutting off the seed clusters with a few inches of stalk attached, and dry them in a warm, well-ventilated place for at least a week. If you haven’t tried sweet sorghum syrup, you’re missing out. account? One of the most versatile members of the grass family, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) can be grown for grain, crafting or for processing into sorghum syrup. 24.05.17. I loved the long day with family and friends, Dad readying the equipment, and Mom making sure everyone was fed. Fertilize and cultivate your sorghum planting as you would a crop of corn, though sorghum won’t require as much nitrogen. Box 588 Poteau, OK 74953 Phone: 918.647.9123 Offers new mills in old and new designs for both small and large operations. Already a Member but Send her your sorghum-making memories and recipes and she will post them on her blog, A Modern Missouri Homesteader. You must decide when the syrup is finished based on thickness and taste, which is a learning process. Thrives in the heat. Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a fast growing plant that produces a 5m stalk with a large panicle of edible, nutritional grain, similar to sorghum grain.The stalk has a high concentration of fermentable sugars that is similar to that of sugarcane. In summer, select vigorous plants for seed production, and make sure they receive adequate food and water throughout the season. Sweet sorghum syrup is known as "sorghum molasses" in some regions of the United States, though in most of the U.S. the term molasses refers to … A past call-out in MOTHER EARTH NEWS for sorghum-making stories led to a flow of memories, photos and recipes centered on sweet sorghum syrup. Sweet Sorghum Varieties Best Adapted to Kentucky That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. Thick, juicy stalks make for mighty fine sorghum syrup once squeezed and boiled down over a wood fire. Survival Skills, Garden Planning, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Natural Health – Dozens of courses, 100+ workshops, and interactive Q&As. Sorghums ... Sweet sorghum and sorghum-sudangrass often cannot be stored as hay because of the difficulty in drying the forage to a safe storage moisture content of 25% or less. Cracked grain sorghum makes excellent animal feed. favourable, sorghum, in particular, will respond well to a low application of basal fertilizer (100 to 300 kg of 7.14.7 per ha) followed with a top dressing of 100 to 200 kg per ha of 28 - 34% N fertilizer. Farmers would need to judge if the sorghum has time to mature before the first fall frosts. Already a Member? Sorghum canes grow throughout summer and form large seed heads that usually turn brick-red as they mature, typically in late summer or early fall. Sorghum also favours a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8 on a Calcium Chloride Scale. Keep weeds under control until developing sorghum plants are big enough to dominate their space. Smooth the soil back over the plowed area and sow sorghum seeds by hand. Please provide more details about processing sweet sorghum stalks at home. Canadian Subscribers - Click Here Survival Skills, Garden Planning, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Natural Health – Dozens of courses, 100+ workshops, and interactive Q&As. Sorghum-makers press sweet, green juice from the sorghum canes and cook the juice down into a finished syrup. Up to a week before you press your sorghum, strip the leaves and seed heads from the stalks. The reader's letter and instructions are available under Sorghum Press Plans (scroll to the bottom of the page). Many grain sorghum varieties grow to only 5 feet tall, but sweet sorghum and broom corn plants can top 8 feet. The seeds are eagerly eaten by chickens and other animals, and are most palatable when cracked. Understand the three types of sorghum is key to choosing the best varieties to grow. Growing Sorghum. (For details on growing many other vegetables and fruits, visit our Crop at a Glance collection page.). You’ll need a shallow, rectangular pan that accommodates the amount of juice the batch begins with but that won’t let the syrup spread too thin as it cooks down, causing it to scorch. Growing Sweet Sorghum for Syrup. Hi, thanks for stopping by. Stalks are crushed and the extracted juice is cooked down to a thick, sticky syrup. Already a Member but These machines were traditionally powered by animal labor, but a small tractor or electric motor is now more common. Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide, Natural Cold Storage: Fresh Food in Winter, Keeping Crops Cool During Hot Weather: 13 Ways to Beat the Heat, Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 64% Off the Cover Price. Several seed varieties are available (see “Sweet Sorghum Varieties,” at the end of this article). Sorghum seed must be planted, thinned and fertilized in late May to early June, after the ground is warm. Yield and quality of syrup are influenced by varieties, diseases, insects, weeds, soil-type, climatic conditions, cultural practices, and processing methods. Like corn, grains of sorghum go through an immature “milk” stage when a pierced kernel will bleed a milk-like juice. I use a large metal strainer placed on top of a larger colander, which is double-lined with cheesecloth. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. Provides useful information and services to sorghum producers, including an events calendar. Leave one narrow end of the pit open for adding firewood, and build out the opposite end with cinder blocks for a stovepipe large enough to ensure a good draw for the fire. It is actually a type of grass not unlike corn. Learn techniques for growing sorghum and for processing your sorghum harvest into syrup for a healthy sugar alternative. Check around for sorghum festivals in your area, and visit the website of the National Sweet Sorghum Producers and Processors Association to get in touch with folks near where you live. (I’ve shared many of these stories in my blog, A Modern Missouri Homesteader.) Sandy soils in warm climates are especially good for growing sorghum because it withstands drought and flooding better than corn does. Growing sorghum is a good choice as a rotation crop due to its high heat and moisture stress tolerance. 713-849-6825 The craft of sorghum-making requires special equipment to press the juice from the canes. The ground, pressed canes yield a sweet, light green juice that is then cooked into sorghum syrup. I grew up helping my family make sweet sorghum syrup. After pressing the cane through the mill, transfer the juice to a long, shallow pan to cook down over a fire pit into the final syrup. As sweeteners go, sorghum syrup is a vitamin and mineral powerhouse that makes a splendid natural sugar alternative. Sweet sorghum. If you are growing rows of sorghum, the rows must be at least 3 … Drought tolerant. When the seeds of broom corn are hard and the plants begin to fail, cut stalks as long as you want them for decorating or crafting purposes. India is the second largest producer of sorghum in the world, producing ∼10–11 million tons from a … At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $12.95 (USA only). For example, we use a stainless steel pan that’s 6 feet long and 3 feet wide with 6-inch-high sides. The grain can be milled into fresh flour, and some varieties such as ‘Tarahumara’ can be popped like popcorn. We’ve always called it ‘cane’ – sorghum is known by many names; sweet sorghum, sorghum cane and all are correct. Pile all of the canes facing the same direction, and transport these piles to your mill and processing site. Sorghum is well suited for dry conditions, areas with uneven rainfall distribution that may adversely affect the growing season of other crops, ... with grain sorghum producing a grain that boasts a higher starch content than sweet sorghum. Canadian Subscribers - Click Here Everyone gathers around the flames to discuss how this batch was different from last year’s syrup, when we’ll see frost, and when we’ll have our first hard freeze. Was a lot of silage planted in June and July among sorghum-makers my! Is now more common plant breeding efforts continue to improve the cold tolerance of sorghum is self-fertile, irrigation., during a period of dry weather, select the largest seeds produced by these plants and save them replanting... 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And cultivate your sorghum, strip the leaves and seed heads that turn amber red when.. Used in dried arrangements cane molasses in flavor and use, sweet sorghum cane grows up to thick! ’ t only old, nearly forgotten memories or electric motor is now more common Priority, or UPS.. By hand email to ccfarmdude @ aol.com or rabjrock @ gmail.com growing sweet sorghum taste, which is with! Platform, but all types are as easy to grow thick, sticky syrup we ’ re....